Age: 35
14th season in pro football & with 49ers
College: Stanford
Height: 6’1” Weight: 203
Prelude:
Chosen by the 49ers in the 1st round of the 1957 NFL draft, Brodie backed up Y.A. Tittle for four seasons (although seeing enough action for the injured Tittle in ’58 to lead the league in completion percentage at 59.9) before inheriting the full-time starting job in 1961. With all of the necessary tools but plagued by inconsistency, he was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1965 after leading the NFL in pass attempts (391), completions (242), completion percentage (61.9), yards (3112), and TD passes (30). Brodie also led the league in pass attempts (404), completions (234), completion percentage (57.9), and yards (3020) in ’68, but in between were years of mediocrity, both for Brodie and the team.
1970 Season Summary
Appeared & started in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Passing
Attempts – 378 [4]
Most attempts, game – 36 vs. New Orleans 10/18, vs. LA Rams 11/29
Completions – 223 [1]
Most completions, game – 21 at Chicago 11/8
Yards – 2941 [1]
Most yards, game – 317 at Chicago 11/8
Completion percentage – 59.0 [2]
Yards per attempt – 7.8 [3]
TD passes – 24 [1]
Most TD passes, game – 3 vs. Cleveland 9/27, at Chicago 11/8, at Houston 11/15, at New Orleans 12/13, at Oakland 12/20
Interceptions – 10
Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. New Orleans 10/18, at Detroit 11/22
Passer rating – 93.8 [1]
300-yard passing games – 1
200-yard passing games – 7
Rushing
Attempts – 9
Most attempts, game - 2 (for 7 yds.) vs. Cleveland 9/27, (for 11 yds.) at LA Rams 10/11
Yards – 29
Most yards, game – 11 yards (on 2 carries) at LA Rams 10/11
Yards per attempt – 3.2
TDs – 2
Scoring
TDs – 2
Points – 12
Postseason: 2 G
Pass attempts – 72
Most pass attempts, game – 40 vs. Dallas, NFC Championship
Pass completions – 35
Most pass completions, game – 19 vs. Dallas, NFC Championship
Passing yardage – 463
Most passing yards, game – 262 vs. Dallas, NFC Championship
TD passes – 2
Most TD passes, game – 1 at Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff, vs. Dallas, NFC Championship
Interceptions – 2
Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Dallas, NFC Championship
Rushing attempts – 2
Most rushing attempts, game – 2 at Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff
Rushing yards – 4
Most rushing yards, game – 4 at Minnesota, NFC Divisional playoff
Average gain rushing – 2.0
Rushing TDs – 1
Awards & Honors:
NFL MVP: AP, NEA
NFC Offensive Player of the Year: Sporting News
1st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st team All-NFC: AP, UPI, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News
Pro Bowl
49ers went 10-3-1 to win the NFC West while leading the NFL in passing offense (2923 yards), scoring (352 points), and touchdowns (41, tied with Detroit). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Minnesota Vikings (17-14). Lost NFC Championship to Dallas Cowboys (17-10).
Aftermath:
Brodie had a lesser year in 1971, throwing more interceptions (24) than TD passes (18), but the 49ers again won the NFC West with a 9-5 record and again advanced to the NFC Championship game, losing once more to Dallas. Brodie went down with a severely sprained ankle in ‘72 and gave way to Steve Spurrier, but rallied the team into the playoffs for the third straight year, although the 49ers once again fell to the Cowboys (this time in the Divisional round). He retired after the 1973 season, ranking third lifetime in the NFL in both pass attempts (4491) and completions (2469) while having thrown for 31,548 yards with 214 TDs and 224 interceptions. Brodie’s #12 was retired by the 49ers.
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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).
[Updated 2/15/14]
